CALEB

1. Son of Jephunneh, of the tribe of Judah, who was sent, with one man from each of the other tribes, to search out the promised land, Nu 13:1-14:45. Of all the twelve, Caleb and Joshua acted the part of true and faithful men; and they only, of all the grown men of Israel, were permitted to enter Canaan, Nu 14:6-24,38 26:65. He was one of the princes appointed to divide the conquered territory among the tribes, Nu 34:19. Hebron was given to him as a reward of his fidelity, according to the promise of God, De 1:36 Jos 14:1-15. Though eighty-five years old, he still retained his vigor, and soon drove out the Anakim from his inheritance. He gave a portion also with his daughter Achsah to Othniel his nephew, who had earned the reward by his valor in the capture of Debir, Jos 15:13-19 21:12. This region was for some time called by his name, 1Sa 30:14. 2. Son of Hor, whose children people the country about Bethlehem, etc., 1Ch 2:50-55.

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Caleb. Caleb
A dog. (1.) One of the three sons of Hezron of the tribe of Judah. He is also called Chelubai (1 Chr. 2:9). His descendants are enumerated (18-20, 42-49).

(2.) A “son of Hur, the firstborn of Ephratah” (1 Chr. 2:50). Some would read the whole passage thus: “These [i.e., the list in ver. 42-49] were the sons of Caleb. The sons of Hur, the firstborn of Ephratah, were Shobal, etc.” Thus Hur would be the name of the son and not the father of Caleb (ver. 19).

(3.) The son of Jephunneh (Num. 13:6; 32:12; Josh. 14:6, 14). He was one of those whom Moses sent to search the land in the second year after the Exodus. He was one of the family chiefs of the tribe of Judah. He and Joshua the son of Nun were the only two of the whole number who encouraged the people to go up and possess the land, and they alone were spared when a plague broke out in which the other ten spies perished (Num. 13; 14). All the people that had been numbered, from twenty years old and upward, perished in the wilderness except these two. The last notice we have of Caleb is when (being then eighty-five years of age) he came to Joshua at the camp at Gilgal, after the people had gained possession of the land, and reminded him of the promise Moses had made to him, by virtue of which he claimed a certain portion of the land of Kirjath-arba as his inheritance (Josh. 14:6-15; 15:13-15; 21:10-12; 1 Sam. 25:2,3; 30:14). He is called a “Kenezite” in Josh. 14:6,14. This may simply mean “son of Kenez” (Num. 32:12). Some, however, read “Jephunneh, the son of Kenez,” who was a descendant of Hezron, the son of Pharez, a grandson of Judah (1 Chr. 2:5). This Caleb may possibly be identical with (2).

(4.) Caleb gave his name apparently to a part of the south country (1 Sam. 30:14) of Judah, the district between Hebron and Carmel, which had been assigned to him. When he gave up the city of Hebron to the priests as a city of refuge, he retained possession of the surrounding country (Josh. 21:11,12; comp. 1 Sam. 25:3).

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Caleb. a dog; a crow; a basket
Caleb-Ephratah see Ephratah

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CALEB. → One of the two survivors of the Israelites permitted to enter the land of promise Nu 14:30,38; 26:63-65; 32:11-13; De 1:34-36; Jos 14:6-15 → Sent to Canaan as a spy Nu 13:6 → Brings favorable report Nu 13:26-30; 14:6-9 → Assists in dividing Canaan Nu 34:19 → Life of, miraculously saved Nu 14:10-12 → Leader of the Israelites after Joshua's death Jud 1:11,12 → Age of Jos 14:7-10 → Inheritance of Jos 14:6-15; 15:13-16 → Descendants of 1Ch 4:15

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son of Jephunneh, General References to Nu 13:6,30; 14:24; 26:65; 34:19; Jos 14:14; 15:14; 21:12 Jud 1:15; 1Ch 4:15; 2:42 ---Facts Concerning One of the twelve spies Nu 13:6 Courageous Nu 13:30; 14:6-9 Preserved when other spies perished Nu 14:37,38 Consecrated to God De 1:36 Vigorous and faithful in old age Jos 14:10-14 Invincible, drove out the giants from his inheritance Jos 15:14